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A Prayer about Making Room for Jesus

by | Dec 16, 2022 | Advent, Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Seasons & Holidays

A Prayer about Making Room for Jesus

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

Lord Jesus,

Sometimes I think the innkeeper has gotten a bad rap 

in all of our Christmas programs 

for not making room for the baby Jesus. 

After all, if he had known 

the Messiah would be born in his inn, 

wouldn’t he have found him a room?

As I consider his story and the busy days of the Christmas season, 

I pray that we will see who you really are—

the Messiah, the King of Kings, 

who humbled yourself to take on humanity, 

who submitted to being born in a stable 

and laid in a feeding trough.

I pray that we will make room for you 

in our noisy hearts. 

Still us and silence us 

that we might hear your kind invitation 

into the space of forgiveness, 

into the deepest, truest love 

we have ever known. 

By your Spirit, move us toward you, 

the one who came to live among us 

that we might live forever with you. 

In your hospitable name.

Amen.

Read Luke 2:1-7; Psalm 46:10.

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.

A Prayer about Waiting at Christmas

by | Dec 15, 2022 | Advent, Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Seasons & Holidays, Suffering

A Prayer about Waiting at Christmas

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

 Coming Savior,

In this season of “advent,”

 as we remember your first coming, 

we anticipate many things, 

some eagerly, some anxiously. 

Some of us are waiting eagerly for family members to arrive 

or to give a special surprise we have long planned 

or to sing Silent Night at the Christmas Eve service. 

All of those are sweet things to look forward to. 

Others of us are quite literally in waiting rooms 

as a loved one undergoes surgery 

or in waiting seasons wondering when we will get a new job 

or weeping as we continue to mourn a lost loved one 

and wondering when the pain will pass. 

Whether we are anticipating the many joys of this season 

or weeping as we wait for renewed hope, 

may we never forget that we are waiting for you to come again. 

May we be strong in your strength, 

may we take heart in your consolation, 

knowing that you are “coming soon,” 

and that when you come,

 you will bring the perfect peace and joy 

this season is really all about. 

We will know intimacy with you and with others 

as we have never known before. 

We will know the rest of never struggling with sin again. 

We will know the joy of serving you 

in the best work you’ve designed us for—

to multiply your glory forever and ever. 

Today, we will focus our hearts 

and our hopes on the horizon, 

looking for your next appearing.

In your en-couraging name we pray. Amen.

Read Psalm 27; Revelation 21 and 22.

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.

A Prayer about a Baby Who Took on Our Burden

by | Dec 14, 2022 | Advent, Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Seasons & Holidays

A Prayer about a Baby Who Took on Our Burden

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Isaiah 9:4

Lord Jesus,

Many of us will probably see at least one nativity scene today. 

If we do, or even if we don’t, 

pause us in our busyness 

to wonder about this remarkable story:

This baby lying in a manger would be you, 

our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

You, our Prince of Peace,

would be the warrior 

who brought peace for us 

and for the cosmos 

by dying on a cross.

You, our Prince of Peace, 

would deliver us 

from the oppression of evil and sin.

You, our  Prince of Peace, 

would free us 

from the burden of guilt and shame.

You, our Prince of peace, 

would beckon us to come to you, 

to be yoked (united) to you, 

and to know the rest only you can bring. 

May we truly marvel at this wonder 

and find our rest in you today. 

In your peace-bringing name. Amen.

Read Isaiah 9:1-7.

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.

A Prayer about the Hope for Our Bodies

by | Dec 12, 2022 | Advent, aging, dying, and death, body, Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Seasons & Holidays

A Prayer about the Hope for Our Bodies

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…John 1:14

Lord Jesus,

As we celebrate your incarnation, 

which literally means “enfleshing”, 

may we not miss the wonder 

that you became a human body. 

May we see the beauty of the bodies 

our Creator God formed for each of us to inhabit, 

and may we thank God for this precious gift. 

May we see how the fall broke our bodies, 

making us know shame 

in our minds, spirits, and bodies (Genesis 3:1-8).

May we marvel at the truth 

author John W. Kleinig describes:

you “took on a human body 

to reclaim us bodily 

for fellowship with God the Father” 

and because you did, 

“our bodies once again become 

what they were meant to be.” 

In union with you, 

we share your holiness 

as we are filled with the Holy Spirit. 

In union with you, 

we “share in God’s hidden glory 

and display it by word and deed 

to the world.” * 

Throughout this season, 

every time we think of the incarnation, 

may we rejoice in the hope 

of the full redemption of our bodies 

we will experience when you return.

In your embodied name. Amen. 

Read John 1:14-18; Genesis 3:1-8; Romans 8:23. 

Quotes from John W. Kleinig, Fearfully Made: A Protestant Theology of the Body

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.

A Prayer about the Lord’s Majesty, Might, and Mercy

by | Dec 11, 2022 | Advent, Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Seasons & Holidays, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about the Lord’s Majesty, Might, and Mercy

And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior Luke 1:46-47

Majestic Lord,

we join with Mary in magnifying you, 

in proclaiming your greatness.

Indeed, you are mighty, 

and you have done great things for us, 

and your name is holy (Luke 1:49).

Your mercy is for us who fear you; 

your mercy continues through the generations 

to all who live in awe of you (Luke 1:50).

You have “shown strength with your arm, 

“scattering the proud 

and bringing down the mighty 

from their thrones” (Luke 1: 52).

You have filled “the hungry with good things” 

and sent those who think they are rich away, empty, 

because they refused to name their need for you (Luke 1:52-53).

You have helped your servant Israel 

and your servant (insert your name), 

not because of anything we’ve done, 

but because you remembered your mercy (Luke 1:54).

You have spoken your covenant, 

your unfailing promise, of redemption, 

and what you speak comes to pass (Luke 1:55).

May we meditate on these truths today and every day. 

In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen. 

Read Luke 1:46-55. 

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.

A Prayer about Relief from Life’s Crushing Load

by | Dec 10, 2022 | Advent, Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Seasons & Holidays

A Prayer about Relief from Life’s Crushing Load

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. Luke 2:14

Heavenly Father, 

We cannot help but notice the stark contrasts 

in the story of the first Christmas. 

Into a dark and silent world, 

you sent angels to speak hope. 

Often when they came, 

the first response was fear: 

“And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, 

and the glory of the Lord shone around them, 

and they were filled with fear” (Luke 2:9). 

Your people lived in a world of strife. 

The words of “It Came upon a Midnight Clear” 

described life then and life now:

“And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,

whose forms are bending low,

who toil along the climbing way

with painful steps and slow…”

And yet, in the midst of 

sorrow 

and suffering 

and silence, 

you sent these wild and fearsome angels 

to announce the arrival of joy and peace:

“Fear not, for behold, 

I bring you good news 

of great joy 

that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).

What was this good news?

A Savior is born!

He is the King 

who will bring an end 

to the bitter strife 

among humankind:

“He himself is our peace, 

who has made us both one 

and has broken down in his flesh 

the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14).

Wherever this season finds us, 

may we listen for the good news:

“Look now! For glad and golden hours

Come swiftly on the wing.

O rest beside the weary road, 

And hear the angels sing!”

For he has come and brought peace, 

and we await the day 

when he will come again, 

and all hostility will cease. 

In that day, 

there will be no more cause for crying, 

no more “crushing loads.” 

We will sing in a choir 

composed of people from every nation, tribe, and tongue, 

“Glory to God in the highest!”

Come now, Lord Jesus!

Amen.

Read Luke 2:8-14.

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.